…Calls on government to strengthen adolescent healthcare programs by initiating online support programs and adequately equipping youth-friendly centres across the country”
By Isaac Eranga
The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative, Prince Israel Orekha, has called on adolescents and youths to avoid risky behaviour that could lead to unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion, especially in this era of coronavirus pandemic.
Prince Orekha, while speaking in Benin City, Edo State, highlighted some of the risky behaviour to include: unprotected sex, drug addiction, having multiple sexual partners, making use of unsterilized sharp objects, etc.
“Through field-tested outreach, the Connected Advocacy has evolved a campaign strategy of merging COVID-19 awareness with adolescent youth sexual reproductive health (AYSRH) information, providing youth friendly solutions to an ever-evolving situation.
“Through the outreach, we’ve been able to reach not less than 2000 adolescents and youths, with AYSRH information and supports a good number of them to voluntarily adopt contraception.
This has helped reduce the fear of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion as a result of the stay at home directives of the Federal Government.
“Statistics show that teenagers account for 22.5 percent of pregnancies in Nigeria. Hence, it is paramount that we channel efforts in a holistic approach that integrates young people’s sexual and reproductive health issues into the COVID-19 response.
“This is another time for the government to strengthen adolescent healthcare programs by initiating online support programs and adequately equipping youth-friendly centres across the country”.
“The lockdown has made them vulnerable to unsafe sexual activities which will likely lead to an exponential increase in sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortion.”
“I urge the adolescents and youths to make good use of this period to plan their life in order to become better persons in future, and to desist from social vices that will truncate their lives”, Prince Orekha said.
The Connected Advocacy boss said the NGO located at 1, Oziegbe Street, off Urubi Road, Iyaro, has a good number of trained social mobilizers that are prepared to lead adolescents and youths through life planning process, and developing in them, life building skills. He said these services are offered free of charge.
“We know we cannot achieve our objectives without engaging parents, so, we’re working on what it takes to engage parents once girls consent to providers following up by phone”.
